Increased respiratory rate after Butorphanol in cats

The FDA has received 22 reports of increased respiratory rate in cats after Butorphanol. That is 1.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

22Reports

73%Marked serious

14%Recovered

23%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

10 50%

1–2 days

4 20%

3–7 days

3 15%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

3 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 14%

Still unwell when reported

7 32%

Died

2 9.1%

Euthanised

3 14%

Not known

7 32%

Problems reported at the same time

11 50%

7 32%

7 32%

5 23%

5 23%

5 23%

5 23%

4 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Butorphanol cause increased respiratory rate in cats?: 22 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 1 day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Increased respiratory rate with similar medicines

Increased respiratory rate after Isoflurane 24 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Increased respiratory rate after Furosemide 20 reports · 6.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Butorphanol in cats · Medicines most reported with increased respiratory rate